The AFC Annual Awards Hong Kong 2019 will be a night to remember after a momentous year for Asian football, following the successful staging of the biggest-ever AFC Asian Cup in the UAE, the Continent’s ultimate club competition, the AFC Champions League, alongside the AFC Cup and the pilot FIFA/AFC Women’s Club Championship as well as other age group competitions.

Set against the backdrop of the world-famous Victoria Harbour, the AFC Annual Awards Hong Kong 2019 will be a celebration of all that Asian football has to offer, bringing together some of the Continent’s biggest names in one iconic location.

As Monday’s AFC Annual Awards Hong Kong 2019 ceremony draws ever closer, the-AFC.com looks back at the achievements of the nominees for this year’s AFC Player of the Year - Men and Women.

Meanwhile at the event to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 2, China PR’s Li Ying, who was part of the team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, Indian stalwart Loitongbam Ashalata Devi and Japan’s captain Saki Kumagai are the frontrunners for the AFC Player of the Year – Women’s category.

Born on July 30, 1959 in Pahang, Malaysia, the 16th King of Malaysia developed an interest in football at a young age and his impact has been instrumental in raising the standards of the game on the Continent.

HM Al-Sultan Abdullah was quick to pay tribute to his late father Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah, who was also a recipient of the Diamond of Asia in 2011.

His Majesty said: “Football has been in my blood since I was a child and it is such a privilege to be part of a distinguished list of recipients that include some of the greatest personalities and legends in Asian football.

“Furthermore, I am happy to be able to honour my father’s legacy as he has contributed immensely to football in Malaysia and Asia. He is my source of inspiration and it is to him that I dedicate this award.

“I would also like to pay tribute to my colleagues who devoted their time and wise counsel through the years and brought Asian football to where it is today. We have made enormous strides in recent years, and I am confident that the AFC will continue to spread the joys of the game, unite and rally diverse communities and build on its strong foundations to usher greater success in the years to come.”

The three worthy winners, who were chosen from a record 27 strong applicants this year, will receive USD$10,000, enabling them to bolster their social responsibility programmes alongside the AFC.

The three categories were established in 2018 to recognise the commitment and expanding efforts of the AFC Member Associations who continue to use football as a catalyst for social development. The three Member Associations will each be rewarded with USD $15,000 for future social responsibility projects in conjunction with the AFC.